Full Vande Mataram rendition triggers fresh Congress-BJP clash

A political dispute erupted following a video from Congress headquarters' Independence Day ceremony, showing party leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Rahul Gandhi reacting to the full rendition of Vande Mataram. BJP MP Anurag Thakur expressed that Sonia, Rahul, and Kharge appeared uneasy during the performance, asserting that Congress' actions through petty politics had insulted the national song.

Kharge Ji, Thakur claimed, is the party chief, yet Sonia's shouting and gestures revealed her true leadership. Thakur also mentioned Kharge Ji's Dalit background and Congress' alleged support for Dalit empowerment.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh offered a different perspective, stating that Sonia requested a chair as she stood for an extended period. He added that the full version of the song was played. Thakur argued that Congress has historically opposed singing the full version, limiting it to the first two paragraphs. This stance was evident in the decision made by the Congress Working Committee in Calcutta on Oct 28, 1937, under Tagore's advice to sing only the initial stanzas at party sessions.

Congress has adhered to this practice ever since, with objections from Muslims citing the song's idolatrous nature and religious insensitivity.